Mark Takano

Latest speeches

1. "Out of Touch: When Union Politics Leave Workers Behind" · U.S. House of Representatives · 15 September 2026

   • Rep. Burgess Owens Q&A: foreign policy resolutions and 1935 labor model

     “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the United States, wealth inequality is at record high levels. While American workers' productivity has boomed, wages have stagnated over the last 50 years. Companies are reporting record high profits, but almost half of all…”

     Watch from 1:16:00

   • Rep. Takano Q&A: wage stagnation, PRO Act, and democracy

     “According to your research, why are wages stagnating even as worker productivity goes up? Well, thank you. As you note in your testimony, workers have far less bargaining power than their employers. Protected labor rights and strong collective bargaining power…”

     Watch from 1:16:22

   • Rep. Takano Q&A: wage stagnation, PRO Act, and democracy

     “Professor Dean, how do these attacks on workers' bargaining power and massive social cuts impact the broad scale wealth inequality? And based on your research, does unchecked wealth inequality impact the functioning of a democratic society? We've discussed this. You…”

     Watch from 1:19:43

2. Beyond Go-Live: VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Status Update · U.S. House of Representatives · 2 September 2026

   • Committee business: appointing Rep. Goodlander

     “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Representative Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire will be an outstanding addition to our committee. As a former intelligence officer who served 11 years in the Navy Reserve, Representative Goodlander brings firsthand experience and a deep understanding…”

     Watch from 34:30

   • Hearing opening: Bost on EHRM costs and risks

     “Well, thank you, Chairman Bost. The subject of this hearing could not be more timely. Unfortunately, sir, this hearing as structured falls far short of this committee's Article One responsibilities. VA's electronic health record modernization program is potentially the largest…”

     Watch from 41:31

   • Ranking Member Takano: Oracle contract tripling and oversight gaps

     “Now, I'm going to say, sir, if you were serious about oversight, you would have invited all key stakeholders. And instead, you invited the Deputy Secretary of VA to come and claim success on behalf of the Trump administration. I…”

     Watch from 42:09
   4 more clips in this sitting

3. “Broken Trust: How the Biden-Harris DOL Leaked Confidential Information” · U.S. House of Representatives · 22 July 2026

   • Hearing opening: scope of DOL leak investigation

     “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department of Labor has essential responsibilities, including protecting workers' rights, recovering unpaid wages and lost retirement benefits, helping families with improperly denied healthcare claims, and much, much more. One legally permissible yet rarely used tool…”

     Watch from 51:08

   • Ranking Member Takano: defense of DOL tools and GOP agenda critique

     “I understand today's hearing will focus on a recent Inspector General report on such agreements. How rare are they? Well, at a hearing last year, one witness testified that the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration, otherwise known as EBSA, only…”

     Watch from 51:39

   • Ranking Member Q&A: IG independence and EBSA health claims data

     “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. D'Esposito, for being here. Mr. D'Esposito, unlike a cabinet secretary, the Inspector General of a government agency is required by law to be nonpartisan, apolitical, and independent. Why is it important that an…”

     Watch from 1:08:28
   1 more clip in this sitting

4. H.R. 8781, "Title IX Clarification Act of 2026"; H.R. 4986, "Parents Opt-in Protection Act"; H.R. 8747, "K-12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act of 2026"; H.R. 8183, "Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring (MATCH) Act of 2026"; H.R. 9723, "Fit Future Act"; H.R. 8660, "Valuing Employee Stock Today Act"; H.R. 8347, "Reinforcing Underserved, Rural, and Local (RURAL) Healthcare Act"; H.R. 6213, "Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025"; H.R. 8775, "Ending Predator Access to Union Power Act"; H.R. 5267, "American Franchise Act" · U.S. House of Representatives · 21 July 2026

   • Title IX Clarification (H.R. 8781): GOP ANS and initial opposition

     “Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word and rise in opposition to the amendment in the nature of substitute. Let's call this bill what it really is: the Bully Empowerment Act. I know every single member of this…”

     Watch from 1:00:54

   • Parents Opt-in Protection Act (H.R. 4986): consent shift and data concerns

     “Uh, Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word and rise in opposition. Mr. Chairman, school surveys provide critical insights into the experiences of students so school districts, researchers, and policymakers can better understand and address the challenges students…”

     Watch from 2:09:28

5. H.R. 9607, "Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act"; H.R. 9609, "Less Bureaucracy, Better Student Aid Act"; H.R. 9602, "Less Bureaucracy, Better International Foreign Gift Transparency Act"; H.R. 9603, "Less Bureaucracy, Better International Education Oversight Act"; H.R. 9605, "Less Bureaucracy, Better Foreign Medical Accreditation Act"; H.R. 9606, "Less Bureaucracy, Better Child Care for Student Parents Act"; H.R. 9611, "Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act"; H.R. 9610, "Less Bureaucracy, Better K-12 Education Act"; H.R. 9608, "Less Bureaucracy, Better Family Engagement Act"; H.R. 9604, "Less Bureaucracy, Better Tribal Education Act" · U.S. House of Representatives · 15 July 2026

   • H.R. 9610: IDEA, OCR, ELL office and voucher-related fights

     “Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. No, we're not... oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. No, I don't have a comment on her amendment.”

     Watch from 4:49:41

6. LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 23, 2026 · U.S. House of Representatives · 23 April 2026

   • Speech

     “Speaker. I seek to address the house for one minute and to rise and extend my remarks. Mister speaker, I ask Ned's consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. Mister speaker, this…”

     Watch from 15:25